Towards the synthesis of monocyclic carbon clusters: [2+2] cycloreversion of propellane-annelated dehydroannulenes

Abstract

We have synthesized the propellane-annelated hexadehydro[12]-, octadehydro[16]-, dodecadehydro[18]-, decadehydro[20]-, and hexadecadehydro-[24]annulenes which serve as stable precursors of monocyclic carbon clusters C12, C16. C18. C20. and C24, respectively.